Timed electric switch for multiple-rate meter systems.



Patented Aug. [3, I90I. F. R. M. CUTCHEON.

TIMED ELECTRIC SWITCH FOB MULTIPLE RATE METER SYSTEMS.

(Application filed M-r. 29, 1901. (No Model.)

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s :0. PNOTOLITHO. WASHINGTON m. 680,3!6. Patehted Aug. I3, 190:. F. n.M. cu'rcuzou. TIMED ELECTRIC SWITCH FUR MULTIPLE RATE METER SYSTEMSnation filed Mar. 29, 1901.) (No Model.)

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No. 680,3!6. Patentd Aug. l3, l90|.

' F. n. m. CUTCHEON. TIMED ELECTRIC SWITCH FOR MULTIPLE BATE METERSYSTEMS.

(Application filed Mar. 29, 1901.)

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Patented Aug. 13, l90l. F. R. M. CUTCHEON.

TIMED ELECTRIC SWITCH FOR MULTIPLE RATE METER SYSTEMS.

' (Application filed Mar. 29, 1901.)

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RS co. vuomu'mm WASHINOYGN a c No. 680,3l6. Patented Aug. l3, 190i.

F. R. M. CUTCHEON.

TIMED ELECTRIC SWTTCH FOR MULTIPLE RATE METER SYSTEMS.

(Application filed Mar. 29, 1901.) (No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 5.

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No. 680,3l6. Patented Aug. I3, I90]. F. R. M. CUTCHEON.

TIMED ELECTRIC SWITCH FOR MULTIPLE RATE METER SYSTEMS.

(Application filed Mar. 29, 1901.) (No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 6.

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UNITE STATES PATENT QFFICE.

FREDERIoKn. MJoUTonnou, on ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

TiMED ELECTRIC SWITCH FOR MULLTIPLE-RATE METER SYSTEMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 680,316, dated August13, 19Q1. Application filed March 29, 1901- ;Seristl No. 53,400. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LFREDERIOK R. M. Coron- EON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey and State ofMinnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in TimedElectric Switches for Multiple-Rate'Meter Systems; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

My invention has for its object to provide certain improvements in timedelectricswitches; and to this .end it consists of the novel devices andcombinations of devices hereinafter described, and defined in theclaims.

In its simplestform the switch comprises a rotary head or support whichis moved with atimed action,a continuous metal ring,herein called thecollecting-ring, a cooperating broken or sectioned ring the sections ofwhich are insulated, from each other and from said continuous ring, anda plurality of contact plugs or pins which fit in suitable perforationsor seats in the said rings and by the use ofwhich any of the sections ofthe sectioned ring may be electrically connected with the continuousring. For low-potential currents the brushes of the main or supplycircuit may be mounted to work one on the continuous contact-ring andthe other on the brokenor sectioned contact-ring. For. high-potentialcurrents the switch may be used to control a magnet or magnets in alocal circuit and such magnets, in turn .be .used to control a.

practice to make a reducedcharge in order to encourage the use of thepower at such times, as the demands upon the power-station wouldnaturally becomelessened.

My invention in several of its forms is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout theseveral views.

Figure 1 isaviewin front elevation,showing myimproved switch applieddirectly in a low-' potential circuit. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of thedevice shownin Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on the line .00 00 of Fig. 2.Fig. 4 is a detail, partly in plan and partly in section,

showing one of the contact plugs or pins.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig.6is a vertical section on the line a x of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a viewcorrespondingto Fig. 1, but illustrating a" switch of modifiedconstruction. Fig/81s a vertical section on the line 00 00 of Fig. 7.Fig. I 9 is a diagram view illustrating the switch shown in Figs. 7 and8 applied in connection with the double-throw switch of a two-rate paysystem of electrical distribution. Fig. 10 is a diagram viewillustrating, briefly, an electric clock by means of which a switch isrotated; and Fig. 11 is a plan view in diagram, showing the switch andthe train of clock-gears by means of which motion is transmitted.

Referring first to the simpler form of the device, (illustrated in Figs.1 to 6, inclusive,)

.the numeral 1 indicates a base-plate having .bearing-pedestals2 and abrush-supporting post 3. a shaft 4, which is driven with a timed ac Inthe pedestals 2 is loosely mounted apart laterally from and alsoinsulated and.

also countersunk in the periphery of said head 5 is a broken metal ring7, the sections of which are slightly separated and insulated from eachother. There may be any number of sections in the broken ring 7; but, asshown in the drawings, there are twelve that is, one for every two hoursof the day. Each section of the broken ring 7 is provided with aperforation or seat 8, which stands in 15, held by a pair of posts 3.

line with a similar perforation 10 in the continuous collecting-ring 6.A series of contact plugs or pins 11, preferably having insulated heads12, are adapted to be inserted, as best illustrated in Fig. 0, throughthe co incident perforations 8 and 10 of the said rings 6 and 7, andthus to electrically connect any one or more of the sections of saidring 7 with the said continuous ring (S.- A pair of contact-brushes 13,yieldingly held operative by springs 14, are, as shown, pivotallymounted on a stud 15, projecting from the upper end of the post 3. Inthis construction or arrangement the wires 16 of the main or supplycircuit are connected one to each of the brushes 13. As best shown inFig. 3, the brushes 13 are mounted on insulating-bushings 17, with whichthe stud 15 is provided.

It is evident that with the construction just described thelow-potential current may be automatically and intermittently broken andclosed at intervals. For instance, with six of the plugs or pins 11inserted through six adjacent sections of the broken ring 7 and into thecontinuous collecting-ring 6, as shown in Fig. 1, the supply-circuitwill be closed for twelve hours and opened for the next twelve hours. Byvarying the number of sections which are connected by the plugs or pins11 the time of opening and the time of closing may be increased anddecreased by intervals varying by two hours. In practice the broken ringmay be provided with a much larger number of sections, so that the timemay be varied by hours or by shorter intervals.

The construction illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 is the same as that abovedescribed with the following exceptions: The insulatinghead 5 is in thiscase made wider and is provided with two broken rings 7, located one oneach side of the continuous collecting-ring 6, and three brushes 13 areprovided, which brushes are, as shown, supported on a shaft The centralbrush 13, which works on the continuous ring 6, is of ordinary form; butthe outer brushes 13, which work on the broken rings 7, are split ordivided, as indicated at 13*, one prong being a little longer than theother, for a purpose which will presently appear. As before described,the brushes are subject to springs 14. The peripheral surfaces of thesections of the broken rings (see Fig. 7) extend eccentric to the axisof the rotary head 5', so that steps '7 are formed between the adjacentring-sections. The ring-sections are separated by insulating material7", which do not, however, run through to the peripheries of the saidrings 7. The steps 7 insure a quick break of the circuit when the brushpasses from a live to a dead ring section.

With the ring-sections and the brushes arranged as just described thecircuit is not brokenin passing from one live section of the broken ringto another live section, inasmuch as the shorter prong of the brushwillmake engagement with the approaching section before the longer prong hasleft the advance section. This latter feature of construction isapplicable to either of the forms of the switch above described.

The use of the switch illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 in connection with ahigh-potential system of electrical distribution is illustrated in thediagram View, Fig. 9. In the said diagram view the character a indicatesthe leads or main circuit-wires which extend to and from the source ofelectrical supply and in which in the illustration given a number oflamps b are connected in multiple. These lamps b, however, might beelectric motors or an electric plant of any character. One of the leadsa is connected by branches at a with contacts 0 c, and another sectionof the lead a is connected by branch wire a with a pair of contacts c 0In the branch wire a is connected a wattmeter w, and in the branch wirea is connected a wattmeter w.

The character findicates a pivoted doublethrow switch, which cooperateswith the contacts c c c c and is provided with an armature f, which issubject to a pair of opposing local battery 75 is closed through themagnet g the double-throw switch f will be drawn into the positionindicated in Fig. 9, so that the circuit through the leads orsupply-wires a will be closed through the branch a (including thewattmeter w,) through the contacts 0 c branch wire a and the lamps Z).It is equally evident that at this same time no cur- .rent whatever willpass through the wattmeter w. It is also evident that when the magnet gis energized the switch f will be thrown into a position reversed fromthat indicated in Fig. 9, so that the main circuit will be closedthrough the branch wire a (including the wattmeter w) and through thecontact 0 0 wire a and lamps b, and that no current will pass throughthe wattmeter 10'.

Under the action of the timed switch illus trated in Figs. 7 and 8 it isevident that the circuit from the local battery 7c may be closed eitherthrough the magnet g or magnet g, according to the arrangement of theplugs or pins 11. With the said pins arranged as shown in Fig. S-to Wit,with six adjacent sections of each broken ring 7 connected with thecontinuous collecting-ring 6-the supply-circuit will be closed fortwelve hours through the wattmeter w and for the next twelve hoursthrough the wattmeter 10. In

plish the above result, inasmuch as the double-throw switch f willremain in whatever position it may be set. It is also evident that bythe proper arrangement of said plugs or pins any desired manipulation ofthe said switch f may be accomplished.

The character m indicates a vibrating pendulum, which is mounted on asuitable fulcrum m and is provided with a double-ended segmentalsoft-iron coil m and with a pawl m At its upper end the pendulum m isprovided with reversely-projecting prongs m which act through lightsprings m to vibrate a pivoted bar m. The bar on is provided withdepending contact points or needles m which are adapted to engagealternately with mercury 2, contained in suitable cups n. The

character 19 indicates a pair of solenoids.

through each of which one end of the core m works without contact. Wiresp connect the solenoids, one with the mercury z of each cup m. Alead-wire 19 connects with the vibrating bar m, and another lead-wire 19connects to boththe solenoids p. The pawl m of the pendulum m engagesthe teeth with a large ratchet wheel 1', which is suitably mounted andprovided with a small pinion r. The pinion 1" meshes with a large gear1' which is provided with a small pinion 1 which in turn meshes with alarger gear r on the shaft 4. of the rotary switch.

With the above-described clock mechanism it is evident that when thependulum vibrates its pawl m acting on the ratchet-wheel will throughthe train of gears impart a rotary motion to the rotary head of theswitch. It is also evident that under the movements of the metal bar mand its contacts m the solenoids 19 will be energized and deenergized inalternate order and that they acting upon the core m will keep up themotion of the pendulum.

The above clockwork has been briefly described inasmuch as it forms nopart of my present invention and for the further reason that variousother forms of clockwork may be employed to impart theproperly-timedmovement to the rotary head of the switch.

It will also be understood that the device above described is capable oflarge range of modification within the scope of my invention. Of coursethe so-called continuous or collectingdring might be formed in sections, although it best serves its purposes when made continuous.

The so-called splitor divided brushes might of course be made incompletely-separated sections. The local circuit, which is controlled bythe timed switch, may be used to operate a single-throw switch insteadof a double throw switch. Again, the device illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8may for low-potential currents be used directly in the main or supplycircuit. For'instance, it might be substituted for the so-calleddouble-throw switch and cooperating contacts. Many other alterationswill naturally suggest themselves in practice.

Whatl claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is as followsi 1. The combination with a rotary head, of aplurality of contact-rings carried thereby, at least one of which ringsis formed by insulated sections, means for electrically connectingcertain of the sections of said sectioned ring with a cooperating memberof said rings, and leads having brushes work ing on said contact-rings,substantially'as described.

2. The combination with a rotary head, movable with a timed action, of aplurality of contact-rings carried by said head, at least one of whichrings is formed by insulated sections, means for electrically connectingcertain of the sections of said section-ring with a cooperating memberof said rings, and leads having brushes working on said contactrings,substantially as described.

3. The combination with a rotary head movable with a timed action, of aplurality of contact-rib gs carried-by said head, at least one of whichis formed by insulated sections, contact plugs or pins inseitiblethrough alined seats in the sections of said sectioned ring, and in acooperating member of said rings, and leads having brushes working onsaid contactrings,substantially as described.

4-. The combination with a rotary head mov able with a timed action, ofthree contactrings carried by said head, at least two of which arebroken or sectioned, means for electrically connecting certain of thesections of the broken ring with the third ring, and the divided circuithaving brushes working on the said three contact-rings, substantially asdescribed.

5. The combination with a rotary head movable with a timed action, ofthree contact rings carried by said head, at least two of which arebroken or sectioned, contact plugs or pins for connecting certain of thesections of said broken rings to the third ring, brushes working on thesaid contact-rings and a divided circuit including the said brushes andthrough which I the current is alternately switched, substantially asdescribed.

6. The combination with leads for supplying current for a local plant,of a pair of meters withcircuit connections to said leads, a switch forthrowing the one or the other of said meters into circuit, and amagnetic controller for said switch including a rotary head movable witha timed action and provided with broken and continuous contactrings,which controller operates to throw said switch, and to thereby rendersaid meters operative in alternate order.

7. The combination with leads for supplying current to a local plant, ofa pair of wattmeters with circuit connections to said leads, adouble-throw switch for closing either of one of which is formed byinsulated sections extended eccentric to the axis of said ring to form aseries of steps, and leads having brushes working on the said contactrings, substantially as described.

9. The combination with a rotary head, of contact-rings carried by saidhead, at least one of which rings is formed by insulated sec' tionsextended eccentric to the axis of said ring to form a series of steps,means for connecting said ring-sections with the cooperating ring, and asplit or divided brush, sec tions of Which are of different lengths andWork on said broken ring, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

FREDERICK R. M. CUTCHEON.

Witnesses:

ANNE S. READ, F. D. MnRonAN'r.

